Ben Parker Inc. in Dallas ceased operations owing almost $8 million in debt, with accounts-receivables of about $3 million, according to court documents prepared by the firm's in-house accounting employee. Ben Parker, who was a sole proprietor and 100 percent shareholder of the firm, died in mid-January, allegedly by his own hand. A temporary restraining order was granted in January, which froze the firm's assets and required the filing of financial statements. Those court documents revealed about 70 produce industry creditors, with about one-third of them owed at least $100,000 each. The

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Produce Marketing Association and the United Fresh Produce Association announced the launch of producetraceability.org, an on-line resource to aid produce companies in the transition to new traceability measures proposed by the joint Produce Traceability Initiative. Producetraceability.org, which is administered by the three associations, features resources and educational tools for those wanting to learn more about the initiative, a list of companies that support the initiative, a bulletin board and question-and-answer section for industry

Loblaw Cos. Ltd.'s customers should soon find an even better shopping experience at its produce departments across Canada. The country's largest retailer recently implemented a new "Field-to-Fork" program, with "the end goal being to put fresher, higher-quality product in the hands of our customers," the program's director, Mike Mauti, told The Produce News Feb. 11. Mr. Mauti, who has been with Loblaw since 1995 and most recently served as a senior category director of the produce business unit, said that "we have been looking at most of the pillars of the business including our vendors

O. Lippi & Co. Inc., one of the older firms on the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market, which specialized in bananas, tropical fruits, avocados and citrus, has gone out of business. The company closed its doors Jan. 30. Michael Janis, general manager of the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market, said that O. Lippi was hurt by a difficult year in the banana markets in 2008 and that the "current national business environment severely impacted them." O. Lippi was one of the original tenants when the wholesale market opened in San Francisco in 1963. Mr. Janis said that he believes that O

Dan Newhouse, who has represented Washington's 15th legislative district at the state capitol since 2002, was appointed Feb. 13 by Gov. Christine Gregoire to become the new director of the Washington Department of Agriculture. Mr. Newhouse is expected to be confirmed by the state Senate and to assume his official responsibilities Wednesday, Feb. 18. He replaces Valoria Loveland, who retired from the position last year. "I was flabbergasted" to learn that he had been tapped for the position, Mr. Newhouse told The Produce News shortly after the announcement. He did not apply for the position, he

CHERRY HILL, NJ -- New Jersey Assemblyman Douglas H. Fisher has been appointed secretary of agriculture for the state of New Jersey. Mr. Fisher, who was first elected to the state Assembly in 2001 and who most recently served as chairman of the Assembly's Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, was introduced as the state's new ag chief during the New Jersey State Agricultural Convention, held here Feb. 10-11. He replaces Charles H. Kuperus, who resigned Dec. 31 after serving for about seven years as secretary of agriculture. "This is a good human being," New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said in